A:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the Black Creek crayfish as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The rule also proposes critical habitat for the species. 

A:  The ESA describes two categories of species that need protection: threatened and endangered. An endangered animal or plant is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; a threatened animal or plant is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.  

 The Service has determined that the Black Creek crayfish fits the definition of an endangered species primarily due to the imminent threat of the white tubercled crayfish outcompeting them.    

A: Influences on Black Creek crayfish viability vary by location, but the most imminent threat to the species is competition and possible predation from the white tubercled crayfish which is now being regularly detected across the Black Creek crayfish’s range in addition to other crayfish competitors. Other negative influencing factors including disease, habitat degradation, water quality impairment, and a changing climate.

A:The Black Creek crayfish (Procambarus pictus) is endemic to the Lower St. Johns River basin in northeastern Florida. This small to medium-sized crayfish has dark claws and a dark body with a white or yellowish mid-dorsal stripe, white spots or streaks on its sides, and a rust-colored abdomen. The Black Creek crayfish occurs in flowing, sand-bottomed, tannin-stained streams that contain cool, unpolluted water. 

A: Critical habitat, as defined by the ESA, is a specific geographic area that contains features essential to the conservation of a threatened or endangered species that may require special management and protection. Critical habitat may include areas that are not currently occupied by the species but are essential for its conservation. 

A:  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to designate approximately 656 miles of stream habitat in 15 units as critical habitat for the Black Creek crayfish. The proposed critical habitat designation includes rivers and streams within the current range that are essential to the conservation of the species, and which are occupied by the species at the time of listing. These rivers and streams contain known populations and have the physical or biological features that allow for the maintenance of existing populations. Special management may be required in most of the proposed units. Of the 15 proposed units, all are considered occupied.  

The proposed critical habitat designation includes lands under State (23 percent), local (County 3 percent), private (74 percent) jurisdictions. 

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More information is available on the species profile page.

A: Designating critical habitat under the ESA does not affect private landowners unless they implement an action involving federal funds, permits, or activities. It does not affect land ownership, nor establish a refuge, wilderness, reserve, preserve or other conservation area conservation area
A conservation area or wildlife management area is a type of national wildlife refuge that consists primarily or entirely of conservation easements on private lands. These conservation easements support private landowner efforts to protect important habitat for fish and wildlife. There are 15 conservation areas and nine wildlife management areas in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Learn more about conservation area , nor does it allow the government or public to access private lands. Federal agencies that undertake, fund or permit activities that could affect critical habitat must consult with the Service to make sure their actions do not adversely modify or destroy it.   

A: Critical habitat designation does not necessarily restrict activities, but federal agencies must make special efforts to protect the important characteristics of these areas. For activities that involve a federal permit, license, or funding, and are likely to destroy or adversely modify the area of critical habitat that will be affected, the Service will work with the action agency and, where appropriate, private or other landowners, to amend the project, allowing it to proceed without adversely affecting the critical habitat. Thus, most federal projects are likely to go forward, but some will be modified to minimize harm to critical habitat. 

Biologists considered physical and biological features the species needs for survival and reproduction which includes: 

• Small to medium flowing streams with sandy bottom and sufficient water quantity and velocity to support normal behavior, growth, and viability of all life stages.   
• Moderate amounts of instream aquatic cover, such as woody debris, overhanging terrestrial vegetation, and aquatic plants.
• Stream banks with cover 
• Water quality with seasonally moderated temperatures (maximum of 30°C) and oxygen sufficient for the normal behavior, growth, reproductions, and viability of all life stages.   
• Adequate food base, indicated by a healthy aquatic community structure structure
  Something temporarily or permanently constructed, built, or placed; and constructed of natural or manufactured parts including, but not limited to, a building, shed, cabin, porch, bridge, walkway, stair steps, sign, landing, platform, dock, rack, fence, telecommunication device, antennae, fish cleaning table, satellite dish/mount, or well head.
  
  Learn more about structure including native macroinvertebrates and plant matter.
• An interconnected network of streams and rivers that have the physical or biological features described in the bullets above, that allow for movement of individual crayfish in response to environmental, physiological, or behavioral drivers.